Metal coated ironing table top



Nov. 30 .1943.

H. B. FAY ETAL" METAL COATED IRONING TABLE TOP Filed May 22 1942 43 TIE-.6

INVENTORS HORACE B.FAYond THOMAS H. FAY

v ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. Eli,

LIETAL CQA'IED WQNENG TABLE TOP Horace B. Fay and Thomas H. Fay, Willoughby, Ohio, assignors to Gridiron Steel Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 22, 1942,. Serial No. 444.0% 3. Claims. sa -137) The present invention relates to ironing tables and more particularly to the construction of the ironing table top. In the usual form, this top is composed of a wooden hoard, formed of either a single piece or made up of several longitudinally extending pieces glued together. In other forms, plywood is used in the board or it may be made of one of several types of fibre board of sufdcient strength. L

In all of such types oi material, the'water or moisture content of the varies with use and with the moisture of the air or place of tlon and the subject to constant changes to moisture content with successive changes from high moisture content when in use to low inois more content when dried out between periods of use. This continual change in moisture content causes warping and distortion and consequent damage to the table top. /"arlous means, such as paint and layer coatings have been used to pre vent or reduce such absorption and evaporation of moisture but such coatings quickly check, crack or peel off so that in a very short time the top is substantially the same as it originally left unpainted.

In the present construction, we have provided top with an integral metallic coating, this coat ing being bonded to the top and forming a tin metallic sheath entirely waterproof and one which will bond with the board without cracking or breaking. Thus the board may be made with. a predetermined moisture content and when. coat-l ed will remain with such content neither absorb" ing more water no losing any by evaporation. Thus warpage and distortion. is substantially eliminated and at the same time a reflective sur-= face is obtained which aids in drying the material being ironed. The board may also be provided with ventilating openings therethrough and the metallic coating also seals the surfaces of such openings, thus forming open or hollow rivets which stiffen the board rather than decrease its strength as well as tying the upper and lower surface coatings together into an integral structure.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various structuralforms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ironing table with a folding leg stand and showing the present improved top;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the table top;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line Z5"--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of a rhodified form of construction;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross section similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modified form of top board construction.

As shown in Fig. l, the present ironing table consists of a top it and a set of folding legs or leg stand it or" conventional type. The top so, as shown in Fig. 2, is of conventional shape hav ing a main substantially rectangular rear portlon i2 and a restricted nose portion The top is provided with spaced ventilating apertures is, these being small cylindrical holes, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, extending through the top, small enough to be bridged by the usual pad (not shown). The number, exact size and spacing may be varied to suit conditions of "use.

Ihis apertured top it is provided with a thin metallic coating do which is preferably applied by spraying, the coating being continuous over both top and bottom surfaces and the edges as wellas extending through the ventilating aperture, these portions forming hollow connecting rivets 23 tieing the upper and lower surfaces 2t and 22 together and stiffening the structure. By proper application, the coating is bonded tightly to the top so as to provide an integral moistureproof sheath for the top structure. Such a sheath protects the top from both absorption and evaporation of moisture and thus maintains the top in its original moisture content condition. The metallic sheath may be zinc, lead alloy, copper, steel or any alloy which can be sprayed, an alloy of tellurium and lead being particularly adaptable. The surface of the sheath may be burnished to increase its reflective characteristics if desired.

-In Figs. 4 and 5, a modified top construction is shown, the top 30 being formed of two sheets 36 and 31 of pressed fibre board suitably bonded together. In this form the ventilating openings are in the form of narrow slots 34 the whole having the bonded metal sheath M with the slot coated to form integral rivets 33 as on the previous form.

In Fig. 6 a further modified type of top is shown in which the top 40 proper is formed of plywood with the sheath 4i, ventilating apertures 42 and integral aperture coatings 43.

In construction of an ironing table top of this type, the sprayed metal coating bonds itself firmly to the surfaces of the top and to the surfaces of the ventilating apertures forming a moistureproof coating. It is preferable to use a. non-rusting coating such as zinc, tellurium-lead alloy or similar materials as they can be sprayed rapidly and evenly and form a completely integral coating which flexes with the top proper withoutcracking or splitting. This coating may be very thin, usually from .002 to .005 in thickness and the upper or top surface may be wire brushed or burnished to give added reflection. I

The original moisture content of the board may be determined and maintained as the coating is moistureproof. The coatin should have a melting point high enough to withhold the heat of the iron e'ven if left thereon for limited periods and aids in making'the board fire resistant as even if the top surface should be broken, the under surface coating prevents air from passing through and thus reduces the fire hazard.

It has been found that a coating .003 in thickness provides a very satisfactory ironing table top and a coating of this thickness is light enough in weight to form a. satisfactory table. By the use of such a coating, the top itself may be made of types of wood and composite materials which would not be satisfactory if used alone, without a coating, and woods which warp badly under normal conditions may be employed without warping or distortion.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means .stated by way of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. A top for ironing tables comprising a board of water absorbent material having ventilating openings therethrough, and provided with a continuous, integral metallic coating bonded to both sides of said board and extending around the edges and through said openings to completely enclose and seal said board.

2. A top for ironing tables comprising a board of water absorbent material having spaced ventilating openings extending through said board and provided with a continuous, integral metallic coating completely enclosing said board and extending through and sealing said openings. said coating forming a thin flexible, integral waterproof covering and the portion extending through said openings being continuous and integral with the surface coatings thereby forming rivets which stiflen the board while sealing the walls of the openings through said board.

'3. A top for ironing tables comprising a board of water absorbent material having spaced ventilating opening extending through said board and provided with a thin, fiexible, metallic coating completely enclosing said board and bonded thereto for flexure therewith, said coating also extending through and sealing said openings and forming continuous hollow rivets integrally connected to the upper lower surfaces of said board to completely seal the same.

HORACE B. FAY. THOMAS H. FAY. 

